Maria Byrne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Temporary Absence of Pharmacist from Pharmacy) Rules 2018 that are with the Minister for Health. The last intake of students for the pharmaceutical assistant course was back in 1985. There are about 300 pharmaceutical assistants, of which 95% are women, and they are employed in pharmacies throughout the country. In the temporary absence of a pharmacist they are entitled to provide cover in the pharmacy for maybe two and a half days at a time or at lunchtime when the pharmacist takes his or her lunch break. The current proposals made by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland are before the Minister and allow the pharmaceutical assistants to provide cover for up to one hour per day. At present, if the pharmacist goes out sick, the pharmaceutical assistant can provide cover for the entire day. The legislation was last amended in 1994. If the current proposals are accepted, pharmaceutical assistants will not be able provide cover. It is possible, therefore, that a pharmacy will have to close because such assistants can only provide cover for up to one hour per day.

Many of these women have more than 30 years' experience. The last of that cohort of assistants are now in their late 50s, so it is not like there are many of them waiting to come through the system to reach retirement age. Pharmaceutical assistants are not covered by the fitness to practise legislation. They are also not covered to continue their education, yet they choose to attend further education courses that are run for both pharmacists and pharmaceutical assistants. Many of the latter participate on these courses of their own volition.

The pharmaceutical assistants are not members of the Irish Pharmacy Union but the union supports them in their plight. The union has written to the Minister urging him to work in a more cohesive manner on the following: to recommend to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland that it reconsider its stance and develop a core competency framework for pharmaceutical assistants similar to the one that applies to pharmacists; to bring the assistants under the fitness to work banner; and to make it compulsory for pharmaceutical assistants to attend the continuing education courses. Such actions would provide the necessary assurance to the PSI council and to the public of the competence, knowledge and skills of pharmaceutical assistants. Also, pharmaceutical assistants would be able to continue to act safely in the temporary absence of a pharmacist under the current conditions.

This matter is very important because we all visit pharmacies at least weekly and we never know whether we are dealing with the pharmacist or the pharmaceutical assistant. That many of these pharmaceutical assistants have in excess of 30 years' experience must stand for something.The Leader might be able to bring that issue to the attention of the Minister because it affects every city and county.